But it wasn’t the message that quickly got the critics intoxicated – it was the picture on Harden’s mask.
Harden’s face covering included the “Thin Blue Line”, a police symbol that critics have long claimed to represent white supremacy and opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement, and a Punisher skull associated with far-right groups was brought.
Neither the Rockets nor the NBA, which also shared a picture of Harden’s mask to the more than 30 million followers on their Twitter account, answered questions late Thursday as to where Harden got the mask from or whether it was intended as a political statement.
The previous Thursday, Harden spoke positively to reporters about the Houston racial protests.
“The way the city recovered and how was amazing. I think the world saw it, ”he said. “The march and everything we stand for is very powerful.”
Among those who beat up Harden for wearing the mask was the musician Trey Songz, who described Harden’s choice of mask as a “certified clown s —” and tweeted, “I will say it for anyone who is afraid.”
But rapper Young Thug, a friend of Harden, stood up for the former MVP by suggesting he didn’t know what the Thin Blue Line pictures mean and stated in a tweet that Harden didn’t have the internet, so he knows it obviously not What is right or wrong if he published something that is against the United States? “
Questions about Harden’s mask arise as the league attempts to navigate a complex bubble reopening plan at Disney World amid a continuing pandemic and mass protests against police brutality after George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.
Unlike his NBA superstar LeBron James, Harden has never been particularly vocal about politics. Harden declined the previous Thursday if he would choose a message for his shirt.
“I’m currently working on it,” he said to Marc J. Spears from ESPN. “I am just about to find out if I will put a message on my back and otherwise convey my (social justice) message.”
The symbol has been largely adopted by officials and police organizations, but critics say it also represents more extreme views.
The skull symbol on Harden’s mask is based on the Punisher’s logo, a violent vigilante Marvel comic figure. The character’s creator has asked the police to stop using the logo and found that the Punisher “is a judicial system failure”.
Harden and the Rockets play their first game in Florida on July 31.
